Live updates: Misery for thousands at UK airports as transatlantic flights are cancelled after US grounded ALL planes – days after AI ‘Smart’ tool was launched

Ireland’s Department of Transport has advised all US-bound passengers to check with their airline for updates.

It said in a statement: ‘The Department of Transport has been advised that the US Federal Aviation Administration has on the evening of Nov 13 2026 issued a nationwide ground stop for all US airports.

‘We understand that some flights currently en route to the US are being permitted to land. The US authorities are handling international flights on a case by case basis.’

Responding to customers on X, British Airways apologised for possible delays and cancellations due to the groundstop.

It also recommended passengers travel to the airport as planned to arrive for the original departure time, unless informed otherwise.

A British Airways spokesperson said: ‘Following the air traffic control issue in the United States, our flights are operating as normal.

‘Whilst this matter was entirely outside of our control, we want to thank our customers for bearing with us, and our colleagues for supporting them and helping to minimise any disruption.’

Manchester Airport has said it is not expecting any ‘significant’ delays or cancellations today.

‘We’re due to have three flights to the US today. They’re all in the air and en route here with slight delays – but nothing significant,’ a spokesperson told the BBC.

‘Our advice to passengers is simply to keep an eye out for any updates to their flight times but to plan to travel as usual.’

The first flight from the US to Heathrow to arrive at the airport since yesterday’s chaotic groundstop in US airspace has landed.

BA66 from Philadelphia arrived in the UK almost half an hour early despite suffering a 20 minute delay leaving the US.

The Airbus A350 was seen touching down on Heathrow’s southern runway around 6.08am today.

In total, 71 flights at Heathrow are cancelled or delayed as a whole today, according to online flight data.

Nearly 10,000 flights to and from the US have been cancelled through Saturday, according to Flightradar24.

Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have each axed more than 2,200 flights.

Meanwhile, United has cancelled 1,800 services and Southwest nearly 1,400.

The departure and arrivals boards at Heathrow this morning show a number of US flights have been cancelled or delayed.

Cancelled flights include American Airlines services to Dallas, United Airlines services to Houston and a British Airways service from New York.

A British Airways spokesperson said: ‘Our flights departing the United States may be delayed due to the ongoing air traffic control issue.

‘Customers are advised to travel to the airport as planned so we can try to depart our aircraft as quickly as possible.

‘This is entirely outside of our control and our teams are working hard to minimise any disruption to our customers.’

Thousands of passengers flying to and from UK airports are facing travel chaos after a rare nationwide ground stop was issued in the US.

British Airways has cancelled a flight to New York which had been due to take off from London Heathrow at 10.30pm on Friday.

A spokesman for Manchester Airport confirmed three US-bound flights scheduled to leave on Saturday morning – all operated by Virgin Atlantic – are likely to be affected if the issue is not resolved soon.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of the ground stop order issued by the Federal Aviation Administration for all US airports.

‘We’re closely monitoring the situation and assessing any impact to our flights. We advise any customers due to travel to check their flight status at virginatlantic.com.’

A new AI-supported air traffic system was launched just three days before all US planes were grounded yesterday for the longest period of time since 9/11.

The technology – known as Strategic Management of Airspace or ‘SMART’ – was rolled out to 22 air route traffic control centres on Tuesday.

The tool brings together around 200 ‘data streams’ onto a single platform, The Washington Times reported.

Welcome to our live coverage as passengers face airport delays after the US grounded all flights days after a new AI tool was launched.